According to a decree signed by the president at the 16th session of Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council), prisoners will be freed on the eve of the upcoming "Gadyr Gijesi" (Omnipotence Night), on the night from October 26 to October 27 during the holy month of Ramadan.

As the President said, the list of the freed prisoners would be published in the newspapers. All former convicts should spend the upcoming holiday, Independence Day of Turkmenistan (October 27), at home, Niyazov said.

In 2004, 9,000 thousand people were amnestied, including 150 foreign nationals.